Data transfer assemblies for robotic devices

Abstract

The invention includes systems and methods for routing data packets in a robot. The method comprises routing, using a first switching device, data packets between a first host processor and a first electronic device of the robot, and routing, using the first switching device, data packets between a second host processor and a second electronic device of the robot.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic circuit for a robot, the electronic circuit comprising:
 a switching device; and 
 a set of two or more host processors, 
 wherein the switching device is located within or adjacent to a first robotic joint and is configured to:
 (i) route data packets between a first host processor and a first electronic device of the robot, and 
 (ii) route data packets between a second host processor and a second electronic device of the robot. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the switching device comprises a PCIe switching device, a USB device or an Ethernet adapter. 
     
     
       3. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising the first host processor and the second host processor. 
     
     
       4. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising the first electronic device of the robot and the second electronic device of the robot. 
     
     
       5. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first electronic device of the robot comprises a perception sensor and the second electronic device of the robot comprises a robotic actuator. 
     
     
       6. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the switching device includes multiple ports. 
     
     
       7. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising an electromagnetic wave transmitter and an electromagnetic wave receiver, wherein the switching device is coupled to at least one of the electromagnetic wave receiver or the electromagnetic wave transmitter. 
     
     
       8. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein each of the first sensor and the second sensor is electronically coupled to the switching device, and the switching device is coupled to at least one of a transmitter or a receiver. 
     
     
       9. The electronic circuit of  claim 1 , further comprising a robot processor in electronic communication with the switching device, wherein data traffic routed through the switching device is controlled by a configuration file executing on the robot processor. 
     
     
       10. A method of routing data packets in a robot, the method comprising:
 routing, using a first switching device, data packets between a first host processor and a first electronic device of the robot; and 
 routing, using the first switching device, data packets between a second host processor and a second electronic device of the robot, 
 wherein the first switching device is located within or adjacent to a first robotic joint of the robot. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first switching device comprises a PCIe switching device, a USB device or an Ethernet adapter. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first electronic device of the robot comprises a perception sensor and the second electronic device of the robot comprises a robotic actuator. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first switching device includes multiple ports. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first switching device is coupled to at least one of an electromagnetic wave receiver or an electromagnetic wave transmitter. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 controlling, by a configuration file executing on a robot processor, routing of data traffic through the first switching device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 routing, using a second switching device, data packets between the first host processor and a third electronic device of the robot; and 
 routing, using a third switching device, data packets between the second host processor and a fourth electronic device of the robot. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second switching device comprises a PCIe switching device. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 controlling, by a configuration file executing on a robot processor: 
 routing of data traffic through the first switching device; and 
 routing of data traffic through the second switching device. 
 
     
     
       19. An electronic circuit for a robot, the electronic circuit comprising:
 a set of switching devices including a first switching device, a second switching device and a third switching device; and 
 a set of two or more host processors, wherein 
 the first switching device is configured to:
 (i) route data packets between a first host processor and a first electronic device of the robot, and 
 (ii) route data packets between a second host processor and a second electronic device of the robot, and 
 
 the second switching device is configured to route data packets between the first host processor and a third electronic device of the robot, and 
 the third switching device is configured to route data packets between the second host processor and a fourth electronic device of the robot. 
 
     
     
       20. A method of routing data packets in a robot, the method comprising:
 routing, using a first switching device, data packets between a first host processor and a first electronic device of the robot; 
 routing, using the first switching device, data packets between a second host processor and a second electronic device of the robot; 
 routing, using a second switching device, data packets between the first host processor and a third electronic device of the robot; and 
 routing, using a third switching device, data packets between the second host processor and a fourth electronic device of the robot.